American Red Cross Of Northern Utah

Last updated on January 5, 2009

The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Description:
The American Red Cross of Northern Utah is one of 800 Red Cross Chapters across the U.S. and its territories. The American Red Cross of Northern Utah offers a variety of services to the communities we serve in North Davis, Weber, Morgan, and Box Elder counties including assistance in time of disaster; courses in first aid, CPR and water safety; a way to connect with family members overseas in the military; utility assistance for the elderly and disabled; and international tracing. In order to provide these services and help our neighbors, community members provide the American Red Cross of Northern Utah with volunteer time and financial support.

History:
In the early 19th century, the international Red Cross movement began with the actions of one man, Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman. While traveling in northern Italy, Henri Dunant witnessed the Battle of Solferino, between the French and Austrians, in which 40,000 troops were killed or wounded and left on the battlefield without help. The sight of humanitarian suffering horrified Dunant. He mobilized the citizens of the city of Solferino to bury the dead and help the wounded. On his return to Geneva, he described what he had seen in A Memory of Solferino, which was published in 1862. His concern touched many, leading in 1863 to the birth of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, Switzerland. This first committee, of which Dunant was a member, adopted the red cross on a white background as its emblem, the reverse of the Swiss flag

Dunant's ideas spread throughout Europe and became the foundation for the "minimal standard of conduct" for nations of the world engaged in conflict. In 1864, nations convened and adopted the first Geneva Convention. The body of law, under which the Geneva Conventions are based, became known as international humanitarian law (IHL).

While Henri Dunant worked diligently in Europe, Clara Barton, a former schoolteacher and government worker, spread a similar humanitarian message in the United States. The Civil War was raging and Clara became famous for caring for the wounded on the battlefield. Following the Civil War, she traveled to Europe and learned about the Red Cross Movement. While in Europe, Clara worked in relief efforts for civilians during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). Upon her return to the United States, Clara joined with a group of friends and founded the American Association of the Red Cross on May 21, 1881.

Clara made a unique contribution to the worldwide Red Cross Movement when she expanded relief beyond the battlefield to include victims of natural disasters. American Red Cross volunteers shipped food and clothing to victims of the Michigan forest fires in 1881. In the following years, Barton organized relief efforts for other major disasters: the Ohio and Mississippi River floods of 1884; the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, flood of 1889; and the hurricanes and tidal waves that hit the Sea Islands of South Carolina in 1893 and Galveston, Texas in 1900.

Based on the tireless relief efforts to suffering victims, the U.S. Congress recognized Clara's work and granted the American Red Cross its first charter in 1900. This congressional charter recognized the American Red Cross as the official volunteer organization responsible for providing relief to disaster victims and services to members of the U.S. armed forces. Clara Barton served the American Red Cross for 23 years as the organization's first volunteer president until 1904.

The American Red Cross of Northern Utah was formed in 1915 and continues to serve the community in Disaster Services, Health and Safety Services, Armed Forces Emergency Services, International Services, and Community Services.

Contact person: Judy Loper, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (801) 627-3549

Address:

2955 Harrison Blvd. Suite 204
Ogden, UT 84403
(See a map)

Web Site: http://www.redcrossutah.org

Directions:

The American Red Cross of Northern Utah is located on Harrison Blvd. directly across the street from Ogden High School.
Nearest Bus Stop: 55,603,625, 2 minute walk

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